WSU Regents Await Day Of Reckoning

Richland, WA- The President of WSU Board of Regents says he'll cut programs and departments altogether before he cuts corners.

The regents meeting in the Tri Cities are looking at losing between 30 and 40 million dollars over the next two years.

Regents President Elson Floyd says that will translate into job cuts across the board, including teaching positions. Floyd describes the situation as the "most dire budget in recent memory," but Floyd says he'll get rid of departments before he compromises excellence.

"If you compromise excellence, we won't produce what we should for our state," Floyd says. "At some point you simply have to engage in elimination, otherwise you just starve programs to death and that won't work in the long term."

WSU has already cut back on hiring and travel, and is offering early retirement in order to balance its budget.

The day of reckoning comes Monday morning when regents anticipate their first look at the state senate's budget. The regents will then get out their pencils and start making those tough decisions.